The past year has been a critical period for Australia’s home-building sector. We’ve seen governments finally recognise what builders have been saying for years: red tape and uncertainty are choking supply, and we need practical reforms – not more plans – to get homes built.

At HIA, our focus has been clear: keep housing delivery moving while pushing for smarter regulation and better productivity. The National Construction Industry Forum’s Blueprint for the Future has given us a welcome roadmap for reform. Its priorities – lifting productivity, building skills and fostering safe, respectful worksites – align perfectly with what our members experience on the ground. If we can streamline training and attract more people, particularly women, into construction, we can begin to tackle the workforce shortages holding us back.

Equally important has been the government’s commitment to pause non-essential building code changes. That decision gives the industry breathing space and stability, so we can concentrate on delivery rather than deciphering constant regulatory churn. The upcoming overhaul of how the National Construction Code is developed is another win for common sense and a signal that policymakers are starting to listen.

Reform of the EPBC Act is also a significant development which offers more scope for strategic assessments and bilateral arrangements with states going some way to addressing what is not just a housing crisis but a land supply crisis.